Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States:
A Report to Congress

Prepared by Division of Acute Care, Rehabilitation Research,
and Disability Prevention

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

December 1999

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Authors and Contributors

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control

David J. Thurman
Clinton Alverson
Doug Browne
Kathleen A. Dunn
Janet Guerrero
Renee Johnson
Valerie Johnson
Jean Langlois
Diane Pilkey
Joseph E. Sniezek
Susan Toal, Contractor

State Brain Injury Surveillance Programs

Pam Gosler, Arizona Department of Health
Barbara Gabella and Richard Hoffman, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Gail Whiteneck, Craig Hospital, Denver, Colorado
Mark Kinde and Jon Roesler, Minnesota Department of Health
Garland Land and Mark van Tuinen, Missouri Department of Health
Loretta Santilli, Kathleen Thoburn, and Gerald Feck, New York State Department of Health
Pam Archer, Michael Crutcher, and Sue Mallonee, Oklahoma State Department of Health
Ernest McCutcheon and Anbesaw Selassie, University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Leroy Frazier, South Carolina Department of Health

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Contents

Executive Summary

Introduction
Public Health Significance of Traumatic Brain Injury
What the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 1996 Mandates

CDC's Traumatic Brain Injury Surveillance Program, 1989-1998

Current Data on Traumatic Brain Injury Mortality and Morbidity
Deaths Nationwide, 1980-1994
Fatal and Nonfatal Injuries in Seven States, 1994

CDC Estimates of Traumatic Brain Injury-Related Disability
Prevalence
Incidence

Public Health Goals
Primary Prevention
Acute Care and Rehabilitation
Improved Data Systems

References

Appendix: Methods Used to Produce Estimates for This Report
CDC Case Definition for Traumatic Brain Injury
Surveillance Methods Used by States
Appendix References